Toy sail-boat.



I J. MACE.

TOY SAIL BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 11, 1914.

Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

8 SHEETSSHBET 1.

IHE NORRIS PETERS C07. PHOTU-LIIH'tL WASHINGTON. D. C.

J. MACE.

TOY SAIL BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 11. 1914.

1,136,476. Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

fiwmlah JULES Mass, or enAssE, FRANCE.

TOY SAIL-BOAT.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

Application filed May 11, 1914. Serial'No. 837,882.

To all whom it may concern: p Y

Be it known that I, JULES MAoii, residing at Grasse, Alpes Maritimes, in the Republic of France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Toy Sail- Boats; and I do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable other-s skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has for its object an automatic apparatus, more particularly adapted to small toy sailing boats (model yachts) with the object of enabling them to follow a given course in spite of variations in the force of the wind and also to enable them to veer at a given moment in order to assume a fresh predetermined direction.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:-Figure 1 is a side view in elevation of a way of carrying out the invention, and Fig. 2 is a plan view; Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are diagrams showing the position of the sailer according to the direction in which the wind is blowing. 7

On the shaft or pin 1 of the rudder 2 a bar 3 is fixed which has the form of a fork. This bar is controlled by a fall 8 from an auxiliary spar 6 of the spanker boom or boom 5 of the main mast 4. The auxiliary spar 6is moved by the spanker boom 5 by means of a fall 7, and this spar is placed sometimes to the right and sometimes to the left of the spanker boom 5, according as the case may be. Between the forks of the bar 8 there is a leaf spring 9 fixed by one end at 10 to the forked bar 3, while its other end is free. This spring is on a lower plane from that of the fork of the bar 3. Its free end is engaged between studs or projections 11 on a cylindrical bar 12 which may turn about its axis. The elasticity of the spring 9 is regulated to right or left by sliders 13 which are independent of one another and which may be displaced on the arms of the fork of the bar 8. The rod 12 has a little arm 14 engaged beneath the end of a leaf spring 15. The spring 15 is fixed at 16 to the deck of the boat and is held raised by a piston 17 The piston 17 rests on a soluble substance 18, a piece of sugar, for example, which rests on the flanges of a sleeve 19 immersed in the water.

The arrangement described works in the following way :Assuming that the wind is blowing from port and that the little boat starts with its sails set for running free, the spar 5 having been shoved to the suitable side, say to 25 or 26, and the length of the falls '7 and 8 suitably regulated, a momentary increase in the force of the wind will draw the fall 8 and the bar 3, and by reason of the flexibility of the spring 9 will allow the rudder to assume a suitable position for opposing the luffing movement. After having traveled forward for a pre determined time the tablet 18 dissolves and the spring 15 pressing upon the arm 14 causes the rod 12 to turn and liberate the spring 9 which was engaged between the studs 11. The fork 3 of the rudder 2 is no longer retained and the traction of the fall 8 causes it to turn, so that the little boat can no longer steer while receiving the wind on the port side. It therefore turns and the boom 5 then bears against the spar 6 and passes with the latter to port, the fall 7 folds up in a loop and ceases to act, while only the fall 8 of the spar 6 continues to act for holding the sail, thus running to windward. The traction of the fall 8 on the spar 6 causes the spring 9 to abut against apin 20 which is driven into the deck either to the right or left of the springQ (in the example cited it is on the left) when the pin 20 is on the right of the deck, it is inserted in the hole 20*. In case of a moderate wind the rudder is then maintained in the middle or straight position. The slider 13 has for its object to modify the flexibility of the spring 9. The ascertaining of the variations of this flexibility is important according as it is desired to have the rudder more or less sensitive, in order to oppose the luffing action. In case the start is made against the wind (close hauled) with a port wind, in order to return before the wind (running free) the spar 6 which at the start was pressed against the boom 5 will afterward move away from it.

With the arrangement described, the following movements may be executed :1. Start with the wind on the port side running free (Fig. 8), and return close hauled with the wind on the starboard (Fig. 4:). 2. Start with the wind on the port side close hauled (Fig. 5), return with the wind on the starboard, running free (Fig. 6). 3. Start with the wind on the starboard close hauled, return with the wind on the port side running free, looking at Figs. 3 and 4 reversed. 4:. Start with the wind on the starboard running free, return wind on the starboard close hauled, looking at Figs. 5 and 6 reversed.

The means for carrying out the invention may evidently be changed without departing from its scope.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is 2-- 1. A sail boat comprising a mast, a swinging boom, a rudder, a suitable operative connection between said boom and rudder, and automatically-operated restraining means adapted temporarily to check the action of the boom on the rudder, substantially as described.

2. A sail boat comprising a mast, a swinging boom, a rudder, a suitable operative connection between said boom and rudder, restraining means adapted when operative to check the action of the boom on the rudder, and means adapted to become automatically ineffective and adapted normally to preserve the operative condition of said restraining means, substantially as described.

3. A sail boat comprising a mast, a swingingboom, a rudder, a suitable operative connection between said boom and rudder, restraining means adapted when operative to check the action of the boom on the rudder,

and a stop made of material soluble inwater and adapted normally to preserve the operative condition of said restraining means, substantially as described. 1

4. A sail boat comprising a mast, a swinging boom, a rudder, a suitable operative connection between said boom and rudder, automatic restraining means adapted temporarily to check the action of the boom on the rudder, and a resilient connection between the restraining means and rudder, substantially as described.

5. A sail boat. comprising a mast, a swinging boom, a rudder and tiller, a flexible connection between said boom and said tiller and automatically operated restraining tion of the boom on the rudder, substantially V as described.

6. A sail boat comprising a mast, a swinging boom, a rudder and tiller, an auxiliary spar mounted on one side of said boom and flexibly connected both to said boom and said tiller, and automatically operated restraining means adapted temporarily to checkthe action of the boom on the rudder, substantially as described.

7 A sail boat comprising a mast, a swinging boom, a rudder and tiller, a removable auxiliary spar adapted to be mounted on either side of the rudder at will, a flexible connection between said spar and boom, a like connection between said spar and tiller, and automatically operated restraining means adapted temporarily to check the action of the boom on the rudder, substantially as described. 7

8. A sail boat comprising a mast, a swinging boom, a rudder and tiller, a spring lever fast to said rudder, a movable restraining means normally in contact with said lever for checking its movement and means adapted to become automatically ineffective and adapted normally to prevent the said restraining means from becoming inoperative, substantially as described.

9, A sail boat comprising a mast, a swinging boom, a rudder and tiller, a spring lever fast to said rudder, a rotary bar having pins normally embracing said spring lever, a second spring tending to rotate said bar and a stop for said second spring made of material soluble in Water and placed so as to be in contact with water while the boat is sailing, substantially as described.

' In testimony whereof, I have hereunto afiixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses, at Nice, France this twenty-third day of April 1914.

JULES MACE. Witnesses:

B. 'BARBERY, CHARLEs BRASHEARS BEYLARD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Qommis sioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. i r 

